BENDIGO police blitzed outlying pubs and hotels at the weekend to catch drivers affected by alcohol and drugs.
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Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant Peter Dyer said Operation Hornet II ran from 4pm Friday until 2am Saturday and again from 4pm Saturday until 2am Sunday.
"These times are known to be high alcohol periods," he said.
"We had police in plain clothing and unmarked vehicles."
We had police targeting Bendigo pubs and outlying hotels.
- Acting Sergeant Peter Dyer
Acting Sergeant Dyer said a driver had his ute impounded and four men in their 20s received penalty notices after police observed them committing various offences when leaving a White Hills hotel.
"The car was a two-seater but was carrying four people," he said.
"Two of the men were on the back tray.
"A passenger was also observed urinating in public.
"He was charged with indecent behaviour and fined $577."
Meanwhile, a P-plater was caught with a blood alcohol reading of 0.1.
The male offender was pulled over about 12.30am on Saturday in Spring Gully, after police observed the man leaving a hotel and doing a "large" burn out.
The offender's vehicle was impounded for 28 days.
The 21-year-old was charged with improper use of a motor vehicle and drink driving.
Police also had four vehicles on each corner of View Street and Barnard Street on Saturday night for one and a half hours.
Acting sergeant Dyer said it was designed to catch drivers who thought they could avoid being breath-tested.
"All drivers entering that intersection were tested," he said.
"We do not set up these kinds of four-way breath-testing sites often.
"They are effective at catching anyone who sees a police car on the other side of the intersection and thinks they can avoid it by turning right or left."
Acting sergeant Dyer said he was disappointed some people were not getting the message.
"If you drink and drive, prepare to be caught," he said.
Another man had his licence suspended for six months after he was pulled over on Myrtle Road in Epsom and blew a blood alcohol reading of 0.077.
The 30-year-old man received a penalty notice.
Police conducted about 600 breath tests.
They found people committing 20 other miscellaneous offences during the operation.